Villas-Boas, whose North Londoners sit fourth in the Premier League, said: “I called it when the draw came out: 'It’s like a Champions League tie.' And I still feel the same way.

“Lyon is a club with ambitions to win trophies every season and a team that can cause problems for us. This game could be seen as a test of whether we’re good enough to play in the Champions League.

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“Lyon represent a club with tremendous Champions League experience in recent years.

"I think it will be a good test for Tottenham. I think we have to learn a lot from these European experiences. It’s always going to be a learning experience for us and I think it can serve that purpose towards the future, that’s for sure.”

Tottenham have lost just two of their last 18 games and have won eight of their last 10 at the Lane.

Despite losing 3-1 at home to Lille on Sunday, however, Lyon have won two of their last three away games.

Spurs are expected to field a strong XI as Villas-Boas is intent on landing a second Europa League title, following his win with Porto in 2011.

Referring on Tottenham lifting the UEFA Cup, the Europa League's predecessor, in 1972 and 1984, AVB added: “We have high expectation for this cup, because of what it represents for the club in the past.

“We have embraced it in a different way, basically. It would be excellent to lift a trophy this season.”

Villas-Boas also admitted to being wrong about England defender Michael Dawson when he was appointed last summer.

Spurs accepted a £10million bid from QPR in the August window, but Dawson rejected the move and has forced his way into Villas-Boas’ plans over the intervening months.

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The Tottenham boss added: “Yes (it would have been a mistake). I think we appreciate the fact we were able to hang on to him.

“What we told him was that we couldn’t assure he would play. We are grateful, in the end that he agreed to stay with us.

“We were lucky in that sense. We won’t start another season with five (centre-backs). That is normal, I think, in every club.”

Veteran defender William Gallas, meanwhile, is set to leave Tottenham when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

Asked if securing Champions League football next season could change his mind, the Frenchman, who turns 36 in August, said: “Maybe.

“If we qualify I will be happy. Maybe I will think more about it.

"But I just want to finish very well my season and then I will take my decision at the end.”